Revelations in a new book have lifted the lid on how Chelsea secured the signing of this season's star player Eden Hazard.

And it turns out that hapless former Arsenal forward Gervinho had a key role in the Belgium winger's move to the Blues!

Hazard, now 23, was one of Europe's hottest properties as the teenager led Lille to the Ligue 1 title in 2011.

And former Lille boss Rudi Garcia has now claimed in his autobiography that it was a phone-call that went through Gervinho which defined the youngster's future.

Gervinho - who just a few months later would sign for the Gunners - fielded a call in the Lille dressing room from Ivory Coast team-mate, and then Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba.

"Pass the phone to him," Drogba is said to have demanded, referring to Hazard. "There's someone who wants to talk to him over here."

When Hazard picked up the phone, Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich was allegedly waiting at the other end of the line and is said to have promised the wonderkid he would TREBLE his wages if he moved to Stamford Bridge.

Although Hazard remained in France for another year, he turned down a host of Europe's leading clubs - including Manchester United and Manchester City - in 2012 to sign for the west Londoners.